Chapter 14
Erin woke in the middle of the night to Ella mindlessly playing with her hands. The forward was laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling.
“You okay babe?” Erin asked, letting out a yawn.
Ella jumped a bit, surprised that Erin was awake.
“Yeah, just couldn’t sleep.”
“You’re thinking about the camp aren’t you?”
“How’d you know?”
“Because I know you, and I’d be thinking about it too.”
“If you know me then you know why I can’t go.”
“No, I know why you think that you can’t go, but I also know that deep down you want nothing more than to go to this camp.” Erin said seriously, perching herself up on her elbows. “Ella, talk to me, tell me what you are thinking.”
“Erin the camp is in New Jersey, I can’t just leave… what if something happens to my mom? I know she doesn’t deserve to have me around, but you have to understand that no matter what happens or what she does, that woman will always be my mother and I couldn’t live with myself if I just went off to New Jersey and left her here with no one… and yes I know I’m not living with her or taking care of her but she is still here and I just… I can’t leave.”
“I understand where you’re coming from babe I really do, but I just think that down the road you are going to regret missing this opportunity. You are so talented baby and I just want you to be happy, and I honestly think that doing this will make you happy. I don’t want to say anything that will make you mad are angry at me but Ella… you’re mom is the reason you only have one more shot at this. You need to do what is best for you, and staying here is not the right decision. Now I know that your mom is a big part of this but I also know that there is something you aren’t telling me, so why else do you not want to go?”
The forward sighed, shaking her head. “Why do you have to know me so well…”
“Because I love you silly girl.”
“What if I’m not good enough?”
“Ella… baby they wouldn’t have called you if they didn’t believe that you were good enough. You are sixteen years old and you’ve been invited to three senior team national camps, babe that isn’t something that happens everyday. I don’t think there is anyone under twenty on that team, Ella you are extraordinary, and I have no doubts that you would kill it with them and make the olympic squad.”
A smile small came upon the forwards face. “You know if I go and make the team that means we would be playing against each other.”
Erin paused for a moment and smirked. “Okay forget what I said, you aren’t allowed to go, we’ll never win with you on that team.”
“Hey if anyone can stop me it’s you.” Ella leaned up and kissed her keeper. “Thank you Erin, really.”
“You know I’m always here for you babe. So… does this mean you are going to go?”
“Yeah I uh… I think I am.”
“You’re going to do great Ella, I know you will, I love you so much.”
“So are you, I love you more.”
“Not possible.” Erin said with a cheeky smile. “Let’s go back to sleep babe, we can talk about this more tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Ella laid back down and wrapped her arms around the keeper. “Night.”
“Goodnight my beautiful girl.”
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“You’re going to a camp?! Ella that’s awesome!” Kealia and Meghan said at the same time, jumping up and down.
“Thanks guys.”
“You!” Kealia pointed at Erin. “Bless your soul for whatever you said to this kid to get her to go, seriously.”
Erin just smiled, wrapping her arm around her girlfriend.
“This is crazy, both of you are going to be going to the world cup.”
“Meghan we have to make teams first.”
“Are you kidding? You are both totally going to make it, but aren’t you kind of worried about playing against each other if and when that happens?”
“Obviously it would be a little weird, but I think that if that were to happen we would both give it our all and at the end of the day we would just have to respect each other enough as players to not let it affect our relationship.” Erin stated, kissing Ella on the cheek afterwards.
“Couldn’t have said it any better myself.” The forward smiled, leaning into Erin.
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That night the couple was watching a movie in the living room when Ella mumbled in the keeper’s ear.
“Erin?”
“Yeah babe?”
“I love you.” The forward whispered in a tired voice, cuddling into the keeper.
“I love you too beautiful, so much.”
“I’m gonna miss you.” Tears started forming in Ella’s tired eyes.
“Hey,” Erin reached up and wiped the tears away quickly and kissed the forwards temple.
“I’m going to miss you too baby, but we’ll be okay I promise. We can skype everyday, and we’ll even be in the same timezone so that won’t be a problem. It’s gonna be hard but I know we can make it work okay?”
“How do you know we’ll be okay?” Ella asked sadly.
“Because I love you, and I’ll do anything for the people I love, and most importantly for the girl I love. You are my family Ella, and I promise that one month apart will only make me love you more if that’s even possible.”
“You’re perfect you know that? I just wish that time would slow down a bit, the end of the year is coming so fast.”
“Well then we are just going to have to make the most of the time we have.” Erin smiled, leaning in to kiss the forward. Ella had just rolled over and straddled the keeper’s waist when they heard the front door opening and pulled apart to get in a respectable position as Erin’s mom walked into the room.
“Hey girls.”
“Hey mom, how was work?
“It was a pretty good night, met some wonderfully people today. How was your girls day?”
“Pretty eventful actually, can I tell her?” Erin asked looking towards Ella.
“Of course.”
“Ella got invited to the senior team camp with the women’s national team this summer, so we’ll both be in camp at the same time.”
“Oh Ella sweetie that’s great!”
“Thank you.” The forward blushed a bit.
The two girls talked with Sharrell well into the night before Ella fell asleep with her head in Erin’s lap.
“You’ve got a keeper there honey.” Erin’s mom said with a proud smile.
“I know.” Erin smiled down at her slumbering girl. The time was going fast, and she wasn’t going to let even a minute go by without appreciating how lucky she was to have met the amazing forward.